I'm just gung-ho about the game in general. I hated my hometown's fans, and didn't care much for the team one way or the other, but I just love the game. Playoffs are the *&^%.

There are a few teams that I absolutely hate, though.

::continues making voodoo dolls of Turco and Modano::

I bet somebody before the start of playoffs LAST year that if the Pens keep Roberts and can get a little more depth on defense, they would win the Stanley Cup this year. I was mocked after they crashed out hard during those playoffs, but I stuck with my bet, and it's not looking bad so far. Hossa was an interesting addition, but not really the key.

Oh, I also pointed out after Pronger left [hometown] that the Ducks were likely to win the Cup with him, because he was the only reason [hometown] even made it to game 7 of the Cup Finals the previous year and was easily the team's MVP.

I made quite a few enemies. They just hate it when a relative n00b knows what he's talking about and is right about the game.

I do, however, recall a radio over the summer where they said they kind of focused on soccer more than the Kings but want to change that...

Add to all of this the fact they they never re-sign their free agents and let every fan favorite go...

I think they can do a better job is what I'm getting at...

The problem isn't ownership; it's inept management. And what free agents and fan favorites (since AEG took over) are you referring to specifically?

They focused more marketing on the Galaxy than the Kings recently, but they haven't been underfunding the Kings by any stretch of the imagination. The Kings have all the financial resources available to be competitive.

Moral of the story: don't listen to sports radio unless you like idiotic yellfests.

Yeah, the Kings' problems lie in poor team chemistry and bad team planning. Half the team is a defensive liability -- the first step should be to shore up the defense and hammer backchecking into the forwards' heads.

With that, a lot of the problems would disappear. The Kings certainly have a lot of offensive potential, and goaltending really isn't that poor.

This wasn't some talk-radio hack trying to stir the pot; this was Kings' management on the air...

And since AEG took over they keep saying they are going to put a competitive team on the ice but haven't. I haven't completely lost faith in them but so far they aren't cutting it.

Every time ownership changes (and coaches for that matter) there is an adjustment period (Same thing has been happening to the Dodgers). Maybe they'll get it together now and show some stability but its hard to be happy with them when they have won nothing since they've been a franchise and Anaheim basically owns the town...

My memory is foggy on the issue but I swear I remember two years ago (maybe before the strike?) them telling everyone they want to save money and spend it the next year and put a good team on the ice. And then they let key players go or didn't spend the $....wish I could be more specific/less vague...but I honestly can't remember...

But it seems like you're paying more attention than I am, so I trust what you're saying.

Their goal-tending blows, their young kids need time to develop, they have made some questionable early-round picks, etc...but it may indeed be more a matter of inept management rather than an ownership issue...